The SPJ Digital

Media Handbook
Part I
By the members of the Society of Professional
Journalists’ Digital Media Committee

Published March 2010

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Contents
(Click on the headline to jump to that chapter)

Contributors (Pg. 3)

Four steps to building successIul live streaming service on your news site (Pg. 4)

Print headlines oIten Iail Web readers (Pg. 6)

How to show oII your documents and PDFs online3J

Using social networks as reporting tools (Pg. 12)

Sharing news has never been easier: A word on user-generated content (Pg. 14)

Learning the new digital media tools on a budget. Here`s how 3J

Scanning. shrinking and blacking out: Working with PDFs 3J

TechTherapy: What is a 3G network and why is it on my mobile phone? Do I want it? What is
tethering?3J

Pound signs on Twitter: How to Tweet more eIIectively by using hashtags3J

What can Google Wave do Ior you? 3J

Screencasting in no time 3J

The 'one-man band¨ checklist 3J

A beginner`s guide to Twitter3J

How to create an interactive Google Map3J

Try it: Windows Live Writer Ior blog publishing 3J

Digital slideshows: The extra nugget Ior your online news story3J

Facebook Pages 1013J

Create an interactive timeline using Dipity 3J

Tech tools to help you keep up with your FOIA requests3J

Better video: Planning (second in tutorial series) 3J

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Our contributors
Jeff Achen is the multimedia producer and online editor Ior Thisweeklive.com. a
community newspaper Web site in Minnesota. He is also a Ireelance
photographer/videographer and blogger at www.mnvideopro.wordpress.com. You can
Iollow him on Twitter.com/ieIIachen or email ieIIachen(mac.com.
Rebecca Aguilar is an Emmy Award-winning Ireelance multimedia reporter in Dallas.
She produces videos and digital slideshows along with her reports. She is currently
working on a degree in multimedia development. She can be reached at
aguilar.thereporter(yahoo.com.
Jessica Durkin is a member oI the SPJ Digital Media Committee. the Region 3 director
Ior the National Association oI Hispanic Journalists. and is a big advocate oI
entrepreneurial iournalism. Jessica is based in Scranton. Pa. She started
http://inothernews.us to track online community news start-ups. She`s (iessdrkn.
Hilary Fosdal is the interactive content manager Ior Barrington Broadcasting Group.
You can Iollow her on Twitter at (hilaryIosdal and read more oI her work on her blog.
http://hilaryIosdal.com.
Amanda Maurer is the online and social media producer at the Chicago Tribune and
blogs at acmaurer.com. You can also Iollow her on Twitter at acmaurer.
Jennifer Peebles is deputy editor oI Texas Watchdog. a nonproIit. online newspaper in
Houston. Follow her on Twitter (ipeebles or (texaswatchdog. or e-mail her at
JenniIer(texaswatchdog.org.

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Four steps to building successful live streaming
service on your news site
By JEFF ACHEN
I used to work Ior a TV station. I was the editor oI a weekly newspaper. Now. I`m living
in both worlds. I`m an online editor and multimedia iournalist.
OI all the tools that seem to bridge the gap between broadcast and print iournalist. live
streaming has to be the most revolutionary. Today. any one person. let alone any given
news organization. can broadcast video live out over the Internet using live streaming
services such as Livestream.com or Ustream.tv Ior the cost oI a simple video camera.
laptop and a Iew video cables and accessories.
The ubiquity oI broadcasting power brings with it a lot oI trash that clogs the Internet.
This is where iournalists have the opportunity. and I would argue the responsibility. to
more contentiously and proIessionally harness the medium.
Here are a Iew considerations:
1. Set it up right. Ensure your brand. your logo and your organization`s live stream
account looks good. Livestream.com allows you to upload a variety oI logos to
various positions like a 300×300 logo. 960×80 banner and 300×250 promo image.
Take the time to ensure these are uploaded and that your 'channel¨ looks good. It
will say a lot about the proIessionalism oI your news service.
2. Thoughtfully consider how and what to live stream. Should you live stream
your local school board meeting? Too boring? Already available on the school
district`s Web site? How about live streaming a public debate your newspaper is
hosting Ior the next election? There you go. Not everything is ideal Ior live
streaming. Consider what people would take the time to watch and how timely it
is. II you purchase a wireless card you could conceivably live stream Irom any
location with a camera and laptop. This could open up great possibilities Ior your
news organization. Cover the downtown Iire live on the Web or an important
press conIerence. all without the live satellite trucks those TV stations rely on.
3. Market your live stream service. Getting the audience is perhaps the hardest
part oI adding live streaming to your Web site. You need to Iind a place to embed
your live stream player that people will be able to Iind. You also have to let them
know that your Web site is the place to view the event live. Most people won`t
think to go to their local news site Ior this type oI service. In the week leading up
to the event. use every opportunity to let your Web site visitors know what you`ve
got planned Ior the live event coverage. Then Iollow through consistently to let
build your audience. Let them know that this is a service they can consistently
rely on to be there Ior important live event coverage.
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4. Lastly, take full advantage of live stream host service options. Livestream.com
allows you to loop your videos in a replay Iormat so even though your stream
isn`t live 24/7. the video oI the last live event you covered is. And. make sure you
approach live streaming with a 'producer`s¨ mindset. Use Livestream`s graphics
and titling to put up names and locations as needed during your live broadcast.
Take advantage oI the live chat Iunction to engage with your audience during the
live broadcast.
Live streaming is a new tool Ior news Web sites. When used eIIectively and to its Iull
potential. this service can revolutionize the way you cover your community. One truly
remarkable Web site that has taken Iull advantage oI live streaming tools is
www.theuptake.org. This site is a citizen iournalism Web site that covers Minnesota
politics through live video coverage. Imagine how your organization could do similar
work.
Just remember. iI approached halI-heartedly. live stream services can Ilounder. Live
streaming is about engagement. Consider careIully how it can enhance your coverage.

5
Print headlines often fail Web readers
By JENNIFER PEEBLES
'County to raise taxes on property.¨
'Smith calls Ior cleanup oI polluted site.¨
'City to approve land-use plan tomorrow.¨
Headlines like those work iust Iine Ior a newspaper the print kind. the kind you pick
up oII your lawn in the morning and hold in your hands.
But they don`t work so well online. And that makes it harder Ior readers to Iind the
content they`re looking Ior on your site.
When you hold the newspaper in your hands and your eye Ialls on a speciIic headline. the
physical structure oI the newspaper and the conventions oI newspaper layout allow your
brain to quickly put the headline in context.
For instance. imagine you pick up your newspaper and the headline says 'County to raise
taxes on property.¨
Right under the headline is the lead oI the story. which tells you a little bit more.
Maybe the lead starts oII with a dateline Ior a speciIic city. That tells you even more.
There could be a picture next to the headline a photo oI the county mayor or
commission voting to raise taxes.
And there could be other layout gewgaws near the headline that help your brain sort it all
out when I worked at a newspaper. the page designers made use oI elements called
'graybars.¨ basically short. column-wide boxes oI gray shading with the name oI the
aIIected county in white letters. (Other papers probably have something similar in their
page-designers` toolboxes.)
Between the headline. the lead oI the story. the photo. the dateline and the graybar. you
can look at that story on the newspaper page and quickly discern what it is about and
whether you want to read on or Ilip the page to the Iunnies.
But online. those headlines iust don`t work Ior me. And I have a Ieeling they don`t work
Ior a lot oI other readers. too.
When you see a headline on a Web site. it is physically divorced Irom all those other
newspaper elements. Online. there are no graybars to tell you what county is being
discussed. Even on the Web site oI a pick-it-up-oII-the-lawn newspaper. you oIten can`t
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see the lead. the dateline or the accompanying photo unless you click on the headline and
start reading the story. (Maybe a couple oI the biggest stories oI the day will have photos
with them. but Ior most oI the stories. all you see on the newspaper homepage is the
headline itselI.)
And iI the headline is divorced Irom such supporting elements online. then the marriage
is totally annulled Ior news headlines being read through alternative delivery methods
like RSS and Twitter.
An example: As an editor Ior a news Web site in Houston Iocusing on state and local
government and Ireedom oI inIormation issues. I see scads oI headlines every day
through RSS (I`m a committed Google Reader user). And at least twice a day I see
headlines like these:
'County to raise taxes on property.¨
Uh. OK. which county? I can maybe understand this headline appearing in a very small
newspaper that really covers only one county but oIten these headlines are published
in much larger papers that cover several counties. I can`t help but think that newspaper`s
readers are iust as conIused as I when they see this headline online.
'Smith calls Ior cleanup oI polluted site.¨
OK. so. who`s Smith? Is there only one guy named Smith in that town? Ditto on the
polluted site is this a town so small that it has only one? (I`m sure the newspaper had a
graybar or a dateline or something else with that headline. but again. none oI those show
up with the headline online.)
'City to approve land-use plan tomorrow.¨
Rerun: What city? Even most really. really tiny counties contain more than one city. (I
clicked on a headline very similar to this the other day via an RSS Ieed Irom a small daily
paper. assuming the headline was about the city in the newspaper`s name. Come to Iind
out. the city in question was a tiny city in the paper`s circulation area.)
But this isn`t a problem only Ior those oI us who get our news through RSS. More and
more people are reading their news on mobile devices. where Web pages can be slower to
load and where users are paying dearly Ior every second oI time needed to download
the page. I don`t know about you. but when I`m surIing the Web on my Blackberry. I`m a
bit choosier about what links I click on. That headline has to be really strong. and really
precise. Ior me to click on it to read a story. I`m more likely to say to a headline with so-
so interest. 'I won`t read you now I`ll try to read you later on. when I get home.¨ I
don`t have the extra time (or money!) to click on every headline that says 'County to
raise taxes¨ to Iind out what county is involved. I`m going to pass that story by. When I
get home. I might check it out on my computer. or I might not.
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All oI those headlines are Iine Ior the newspaper that`s the way newspaper people
have been trained to write headlines Ior decades now (Anybody out there bought one oI
those 'Area Man¨ T-shirts Irom The Onion?) But headlines that work in traditional print
media oIten don`t work online. Those oI us who trained as newspaper people will Iind
that our training. and our conventions. sometimes serve us poorly in the new digital
sphere. Online. headlines have to stand on their own two Ieet.

8
How to show off your documents and PDFs online
By JENNIFER PEEBLES
There`s nothing like the smell oI documents in the morning: Great. powerIul. telling
documents documents conIirming that the mayor really was running a meth lab in the
basement oI City Hall. Or that the county commission chairman really was betting county
workers` pension money on illicit goat-roping contests. Or that the police chieI really did
show up to work one day drunk. wearing only his boxer underwear. singing 'Tiptoe
Through the Tulips¨ in the style oI Tiny Tim.
So now that you`ve got these great documents. how do you show them oII online?
One way is to upload the Iiles directly to your Web server. either using your publication`s
content-management system or using an FTP program like FileZilla or. another one I`ve
used sometimes. CoIIeeCup FTP.
But then there`s also Scribd.com. a Iree service that lets you upload PDFs and which
converts them to Flash presentations. That`s really cool because it means that readers can
quickly scroll through a big PDF Iile and Iind some relevant page in the back without
having to see that 'downloading . downloading . downloading¨ message across their
screen (and you know what I mean iI you`ve ever had to upload a 600-page government
report to your site. Why does the government always put the interesting stuII in the back
oI the reports?).
Using Scribd also means that those huge reports don`t eat up a bunch oI your Web server
space. because the Iile is sitting on Scribd`s servers. There`s also some social networking
capability to the site. too. so people can 'Iriend¨ you and subscribe to your documents.
and you can return the Iavor.
The site I work Ior. a nonproIit news site called Texas Watchdog. uses Scribd quite a bit.
We like that we can upload a document and make it 'private¨ shielding it Irom access
by the entire world. but allowing our reporters to access it via e-mailed invitations and
then quickly throw the switch to publish them to all the InterWebs when we`re ready to
publish our story.
Then there`s also Google Docs. Google Docs will let you upload and share a PDF with
the world that`s up to 10 megabytes. This service is also Iree.
(There may yet be other services out there Ior PDF-sharing iI you know oI others that
people should try. please comment below!)
So. once you`ve got your documents uploaded to the Web in some way. how do you
present those documents online?
The easiest thing to do is simply link Irom the story text to the PDF in question.
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I`ve seen people do bulleted lists oI document links at the end oI their stories. like this:
x PDF oI the mayor`s arrest report
x PDF oI city workers` e-mails discussing the mayor`s arrest
x PDF oI the mayor`s e-mails in which he says he 'iust loves making illegal meth¨
But I`m not terribly iazzed about this approach. For one thing. you never know iI a reader
will read all the way to the end oI the story to see those links.
Plus. it`s inconvenient Ior the reader. II I come across a passage in the third graI that
makes reIerence to a document. I might want to click on that document right then and see
it Ior myselI. My personal preIerence is to link phrases in the story to the documents to
which they reIer a little bit like putting Iootnotes in a school term paper. only through
the Web.
Scribd.com oIIers a Iancier approach: It enables you to embed the Flash presentation oI
your document in the story text. I think this is iust cool as heck. but I`ve had trouble
getting it to work Ior readers using Internet Explorer. Some oI them have told me they
iust see a big blob oI white space on the page where the document is supposed to be. We
stopped using the Scribd embed Iunction aIter we heard that. I hope that eventually it will
work Ior all browsers.
But here`s something that`s more reliable. You can use the Iront page oI the document
or a picture that zooms in on one key phrase or passage in the document as an art
element in your story or post. and then make that art element a hyperlink to the PDF oI
the document.
When I worked in the Tennessean newsroom in Nashville. we used to call these
'document tears¨ when they were used in the print edition they looked like they had
been torn Irom a document and put onto the newspaper page. So that`s what I call these
today when I create them Ior Texas Watchdog.
To create a document tear. you have at least two options. II you have access to Adobe
Photoshop or other picture-editing soItware. you should be able to open the PDF Iile in
Photoshop and simply save the Iirst page oI the PDF as a .ipg Iile. (II you want to
spotlight one passage in the document. you can use the crop tool to cut out all the rest oI
the picture.) Then you can save the Iile Ior publication on the Web (72 dpi. I believe) and
upload the newly created .ipg like any other photograph you might use on your site.
II you don`t have Photoshop or another photo editing program that will open a PDF. you
can also do it the old-Iashioned way: Get out the digital camera and take picture oI the
piece oI paper. Then download that photo Irom the camera. crop it as needed and upload
it to your site.
AIter you`ve got the picture oI the document. or the document tear. uploaded. insert it at
the requisite spot in the story text. Then. go back and get the URL oI the PDF Iile oI the
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document whether it`s on your Web server. on Scribd or stored as a Google Doc
and copy that URL into the clipboard. Now. switch back over to where you`re working in
the story text and wrap the 'A HREF÷¨ HTML tags around the .ipg oI the document tear
so that the picture Iile itselI becomes a hyperlink to the document URL.
But I`m sure those aren`t the only ways to present documents online. What are some oI
the tips you can share with our readers?
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Using social networks as reporting tools
By AMANDA MAURER
II you had to Iind someone stuck in traIIic on an expressway during a snow storm Ior a
story. could you do it?
Chicago Tribune reporter James Janega did.
Finding that source could have been a diIIicult task. but James knew he had options. He
logged in to Twitter. did a quick search. and soon Iound a woman who was tweeting
while sitting in traIIic. He messaged her on Twitter and soon they were chatting by phone.
Within minutes James had the source and inIormation he needed.
Social networks like Facebook and Twitter are excellent resources when searching Ior
sources and story ideas. OI course. once a source is Iound on a social network. it`s the
iournalist`s responsibility to do the proper checks to veriIy who that person claims to be.
and Iollow up with a proper interview in person or over the phone. Nevertheless. these
sites can help you Iind Iolks by interest. proIession. location and more. which means it`s
increasingly important Ior us to come up with best practices when using these sites.
Dozens oI organizations. including The Associated Press and the BBC. have created their
own social media policies. II you`re interested in using social networks to Iind sources.
I`d recommend chatting with your editor to learn more about your own newsroom`s view
on this. At the Chicago Tribune we have our own social media guidelines that I view as
best practices. Many oI the guidelines echo our newsroom editorial principles: truth and
integrity. obiectivity and accountability. and proper sourcing.
II your newsroom embraces the idea oI Iinding sources via social networks. you`re in
luck. There are a number oI sites that will help you Iind exactly who you`re searching Ior.
Six easy ways to Iind sources:
x Twitter search This is the advanced version oI the Twitter search you can
perIorm on your Twitter homepage. You can search Ior Iolks based on Tweet
keyword. by username. by location. date. attitude and more. This is your best
option iI you`re trying to Iind that person stuck in traIIic.
x II you like Twitter search. also try Twazzup. It`s similar to Twitter search. but it
also displays popular links related to that search term. suggested users. news.
photos and more.
x Twellow 'The Twitter Yellow Pages¨ allow you to search Ior users by their
bios` keywords and general interests. It`s perIect Ior Iinding Iolks interested in a
certain beat or hobby. like photography.
x Try Twellowhood to search by interest and location.
x II you like Twellow. also try WeFollow. which also lists users by interest.
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x Facebook search Facebook has been working on its search abilities the past
Iew months. and now it allows you to search by people. posts by Iriends
(including photos. links. status updates. notes and more). groups and Web results.
Have you used these tools beIore? Do you have your own Iavorites? Let us know!

13
Sharing news has never been easier: A word
about user-generated content
By HILARY FOSDAL
News has always been something people shared whether over the dinner table or the
water cooler. Today UGC (user-generated content) applications make it easier than ever
Ior people to share what is newsworthy to them online. Instead oI being passive
consumers oI the news. viewers can ioin the conversation by uploading and submitting
images and videos oI local community events.
UGC is not a new concept. For example. letters to the editor have been around Ior quite
some time. However. the ease oI use. low cost (typically Iree or Iree with online
registration) and availability oI UGC is increasing the amount oI citizen-iournalism
content being generated.
Luckily Ior budding citizen-iournalists. these days it`s hard to Iind a local new
organization that isn`t promoting its user-generated content application.
With news organizations around the nation suIIering Iinancially having thousands oI
Ieet on the street potentially shooting the next 'it¨ story there is a lot to get excited
about when it comes to UGC.
There are also some concerns . Below is an excerpt oI my interview with Iormer WGN
radio news director Wes Bleed addressing the topics oI UGC. citizen-iournalism and the
news-gathering process. (Note: II you`re viewing this handbook via Scribd.com. click on
this link to go to the video on YouTube.)
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Q. As a former news director, how do you view user-submitted photo and video content?
A: Using user-submitted content is always something that I would be hesitant about in
the sense that you just don’t know where it’s coming from. Well, you might know where
it’s coming from, but you might not have a handle on how you got it. Did you get it
because somebody had just simply gone out and shot video or recorded sound and did
nothing else but just send it to you? Or was there some kind of editing in the pre-stages
before you got it? Well, if that’s the case, then now you don’t really know just what you
ended up with. So that’s always a problem.
You also don’t know necessarily how reliable the person is. Again, is it just Joe Citizen
trying to be a good guy? Or is it somebody trying to get his name out there to get
attention for himself? So on and so forth. So I have a lot of questions about it. Now,
having said all the downsides, now the upside is you can get people involved. You can get
some very interesting shots, stills, video, perhaps some kind of (Zapruder)-type film that
nobody else would possibly have. So you never want to dismiss it out of hand, but you just
have to be very careful about it. So that’s my big thing, be careful about it. Try to figure
out where it came from. At the same time, embrace the possibilities that it does present.
When news organizations embrace UGC-submitted content. they make users more loyal
and encourage users to be more engaged with the Web site. One oI the added values oI
news organizations promoting and highlighting UGC submissions is that it builds brand
preIerence with viewers oIIline beyond the airwaves. beyond the broadcast. and beyond
a Web site.
Looking to inspire citizen-iournalists in your community? Wes Bleed inIorms citizen-
iournalists oI what it takes to make it Irom the UGC platIorm to the broadcast. (Note: II
you`re reading this handbook via Scribd.com. click here to go directly to the video on
YouTube.)

Q: If there is a citizen-journalist who is watching this and they want to know how will
their content make the cut. Instead of being just user-submitted content, it makes it
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onto the air or makes it onto the Web site and it gets highlighted in some fashion. What
qualities or how would you evaluate a user-submitted content that would make the cut
that would go beyond just the user-generated platform?
A: I think it has to be the unique value of what that is. If a tornado rolls through your
town and you happened to have your camera in the car and, instead of taking cover, you
take a moment to video the tornado and nobody else does … Your video is going to be
used all over the place, my guess is. If many people are shooting and recording and
video-ing certain things, then the best is going to be used and yours may be pushed down
in terms of that unique quality. So, I think it all has to do with the story. With the interest
in the story and certainly with your unique offering.
Are you the first on the scene? Are you like the guy that Twittered the first photo of the
plane in the Hudson? Everybody saw that. And it was because it was unique and timely
and it was of a very perishable nature, in the sense that that scene, nobody else could get
because the plane was sinking. So that was a terrific shot. It all goes back to, again, what
else is there? What’s the story? What’s the interest level? And what did you provide?
Several examples oI UGC applications:
x Ning
x KickApps
x Crowdvine
x GoingOn

16
Learning the new digital media tools on
a budget. Here’s how …
By REBECCA AGUILAR
I`ve been asked by many reporters how much it cost me to learn how to design a Web site.
edit digital video. use Photoshop. produce digital slideshows. and now create animated
graphics and logos. Well. it was cheaper than you think.
Almost two years ago. I went Iull Iorce learning everything I could about multimedia
tools right aIter I lost my television reporting iob in Dallas. I thought I needed to learn
more. but Ior as little money as possible. My husband is supporting us. but I didn`t want
him to think I was going hog wild on my spending.
I 'Googled¨ everything. and quickly learned there were many multimedia and digital
media workshops being taught by proIessionals. I thought wonderIul until I saw the
price Ior a one-week workshop. Digital video classes in New York City were one
thousand bucks! Photoshop classes were nothing cheap. Video editing classes in Los
Angeles were also a heIty price. This didn`t include hotel and airIare expense.
So I put my reporting skills to work and started looking in my backyard. I Iound a
community college in Dallas that oIIered all the classes I needed. I`ve now taken three
Web design classes. one Photoshop class. and currently I`m working on two animation
classes. And guess what? Each class has cost me $124 dollars.
Do the math; I`ve spent a little over $700 on six classes. Remember. I Iound classes Ior
$1.000 Ior ONE WEEK. So there`s no need to spend lots oI money on learning the new
digital media.
Here`s another tip iI you don`t have a community college in your area oIIering you what
you need. A videographer Iriend asked me to do a workshop Ior some oI his clients. I
told him I`d do it Ior Iree iI he taught me the basics oI Final Cut Pro. He got something
and I got something. When all else Iails share your talents.
I do have my 'special class money¨ iar where I have Iunds saved up Ior that one class
I know I need to spend a little extra on. My choice is the Poynter Institute. I`m headed
there this week. and will blog in the near Iuture about my experience there.
Until next time!

17
Scanning, shrinking and blacking out:
Working with PDFs
By JENNIFER PEEBLES
When I worked at a mid-sized daily newspaper. we had a simple process Ior getting PDFs
oI documents posted on the Web: Paper clip them together. put a Post-It note on them
describing what they were. and hand them to someone in the Online Department. As iI by
magic. they appeared the next day online. hyperlinked Irom our story.
But I leIt the mid-sized daily newspaper a year ago to work with two Iriends at a startup
online newspaper. And I`ve had to get educated in a hurry about making PDFs.
I suspect a lot oI y`all out there are in the same boat as I was. so I`ll try to share with you
some things I learned the hard way.
II you`re like us at all. you do a lot with PDFs our Iocus is on local and state
government and government transparency. so we get a lot oI public records and post
them online. including government oIIicials` calendars. their e-mails. their annual ethics
Iorms. you name it. Most oI these come to us as paper documents that we have to scan in
and scanning them in can to create massive PDF Iiles that are unwieldy. both Ior us
and Ior our readers.
But I got educated about something called optimization. Basically. optimizing a PDF
crunches down the Iile size I`ve seen it reduce the size oI a PDF to iust a third oI what
it was. (I`m not an expert. but I think it largely involves tossing out some oI the data
associated with the blank white spaces on the paper document.)
Optimizing PDFs is awesome. We went Irom posting huge Iiles that choked our readers`
browsers to much more manageable Iile sizes that are quicker Ior people to download and
read.
So. how do you optimize? I`m aIraid you can`t do it in the Iree Acrobat Reader program.
But here are two Ior-pay programs that can do it (notice: I am not a paid spokesman Ior
either manuIacturer.) One is the pro version oI Adobe Acrobat. which I think right now is
version 9.0. It retails Ior about $699 and is also included in the Iull version oI the Adobe
Creative Suite 4 package (which retails Ior about $2.400. I think). It gives you some
options in terms oI how much image quality will be lost when it crunches down the Iile.
Another program. one that`s much cheaper. is Nitro PDF. It sells Ior about $99 a copy.
Nitro can also do optimize. (Note: I am not a paid spokesman Ior either proiect. iust a
user.)
But those aren`t the only cool things that those programs can do that will help iournalists.
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Another cool Ieature oI both programs is that they`ll allow you to combine multiple PDFs
into one Iile. This is really handy when you`re trying to scan in some 800 pages oI
printouts Irom the mayor`s calendar but the document Ieeder on your scanner will only
take 25 pages at a time: Generate one PDF Ior each 25 pages. and when you`re all done
scanning. combine them all into one Iile.
And both programs will allow you to remove pages Irom a PDF Iile handy Ior when
you accidentally get. say. a Ireelancer`s invoice mixed up in the pile oI pages Irom the
mayor`s calendar being scanned in. Just delete that one page oI the Ireelancer invoice
Irom the PDF. Or. 'extract¨ the Ireelancer invoice and save it as its own PDF.
Both programs will also allow you to reorder pages within PDFs handy Ior when you
accidentally put April 19 aIter the April 20 page beIore you stick the whole sheaI into the
scanner.
And Acrobat has one other really handy Ieature that Nitro does not have: Redaction it
has a small toolbox oI gizmos that let you black out stuII.
Now. I know what you`re thinking we`re iournalists. we hate redaction! Why would
we redact something? Well. what about a source who leaks you a document via Iax? You
might not want to display that person`s name and Iax number to the whole world. Or say
you get a document through a public records request that has someone`s Social Security
number on it the records custodian was supposed to redact it beIore he/she gave it to
you. but it slipped through. and now you have it. Unless someone can give me some
really good iournalistic reason Ior it. I tend to be reluctant to blast that person`s Social all
over the InterWebs. My initial instinct is. let`s black out their Social beIore we post the
PDF Iile. (And there are other programs that will redact as well search under 'PDF
redaction¨ on Google and they`ll turn up.)
I`m Iar Irom being a PDF expert. That`s why I`m still working my way through a copy oI
the Adobe Acrobat Bible. But what I`ve learned so Iar has saved me a lot oI headaches.

19
TechTherapy: What is a 3G network and why is it on
my mobile phone? Do I want it? What is tethering?
By STEVE FOSDAL
The m ost a ccurate a nswer i s t hat a 3G ne twork i s one t hat I ollows an i nternational
standard Ior w ireless co mmunications ( see: IMT-2000). UnIortunately. t his is not t he
most he lpIul a nswer. As i ournalists. t his may ha ppen t o you oI ten. getting te chnically
correct a nswers t hat don` t a ddress what t he que stion i s r eally a bout. The g oal oI t his
column is to help correct that.
So. now Ior the better. more helpIul. answer.
3G is a third-generation data network that lets you get online using your mobile phone.
Yes. you want it. Tethering is one oI the cooler things that can be done with a 3G mobile
phone. (Note: II you`re reading this handbook on Scribd.com. click this link to go
directly to the video on YouTube.)

Source: IceFlowStudios, YouTube Channel
A 3G network is a data network that allows (relatively) high-speed data to be transIerred
wirelessly to and Irom your mobile phone. A data network is what lets you get online. II
you can operate a Web browser on your mobile phone. you have a data network plan.
There are alternatives to 3G; most are slower. like Ior example. EDGE. Check out the
YouTube video to the right Ior a side-by-side speed comparison.
Which data networks (2G. 2.5G. 3G. EDGE. etc.) are available depends on which
provider you choose (AT&T. Sprint. Verizon. etc.) and which mobile phone you choose
(iPhone. Blackberry Curve. etc).
20
All mobile phones are not created equal. I`ve never seen a mobile phone with a data plan
that doesn`t have a Web browser. but whether or not you`ll be able to record video and
upload it to YouTube (and how long that will take) is something you`ll need to veriIy
with your carrier.
One oI the more tech-tastic things that some data plans/mobiles support is tethering.
Tethering is what you are doing when you connect your mobile phone. either via
Bluetooth or through USB. to your computer and the mobile phone shares its data
network with your computer. Once that happens. you should be able to use your
computer as though it were online. The network speed won`t be as Iast as it would be on
a land line. but you`ll have access to all the online tools you are used to.
Tethering is definitely not something every plan/phone supports. II you want to be able
to do this. check with your carrier.
Things are always changing in the tech world so it`s good to keep your eye on new
developments.
Here are some I`m watching: Tethering is becoming more and more popular so I think
more carriers are going to support it. some sooner than others. Also not so Iar oII are 4G
networks. Promising Iaster speed. 4G networks should be very popular.
Want to read more?
x Wikipedia: 4G Networks
x Sprint 4G Networks
x Sprint 4G/3G Routers Support Up to 32 Simultaneous Wi-Fi Connections
x iPhone: Cellular Data Network Access
x AT&T Upgrading 3G Network

21
Pound signs on Twitter: How to Tweet more
effectively by using hashtags
By JENNIFER PEEBLES
For all oI my ink-stained Iriends out there who are trying. trying. trying to 'get¨ The
Twitter and you are many. I know I`m gonna explain what those darn pound signs
('#¨) are about in Twitter messages and how you can put them to use.
But Iirst. a story.
When I Iirst signed up Ior a Twitter account. I thought it would be a cool way Ior me to
share what I was doing with a Iairly small circle oI good Iriends.
I kept my Tweets 'protected¨ and only visible to people I knew and trusted aIter all. it
seemed to me that Twitter was only good Ior telling your Iriends what you were doing
right then. like 'I`m eating my Froot Loops¨ or 'I`m having a colonoscopy.¨ What iI
what I was doing was standing in line at the cash register at Home Depot did I want
the entire world to know that they could go rob my house?
But Twitter has grown into something much more useIul than that. Not only are people
now using it to share their thoughts with thousands oI people on their 'Iollower¨ lists.
they can also share their thoughts with people on Twitter who aren`t even Iollowing them
and don`t know them Irom the man in the moon.
Twitter isn`t iust about telling your closest pals that you`re almost done putting out the
Iire that broke out on your Snuggie sleeve when you reached over a lit candle to grab the
remote. Twitter is allowing people in Iaraway places to tell us. in real-time. about the
censorship and repression going on in their countries. It`s allowing people to share
political commentary here at home and to share links. thoughts. bon mots and smart
remarks about any topic under the sun. All through a handy device called a hashtag.
A hashtag on Twitter is like a keyword that you stick in your Tweet text by putting a
pound sign in Iront oI it. you signal to the reader that it`s a keyword.
Then. as you read a stream oI Tweets. you can see who`s Tweeting on the same topic by
quickly looking Ior the same hashtag to show up. Or. you can search Ior that hashtag via
Twitter`s own search engine to Iind everyone in the Twitter-verse who`s Tweeting on
that subiect.
For instance. several bloggers and Twitter Iolks we Iollow here at Texas Watchdog
attended and live-Tweeted some meetings earlier this year oI the Texas State Board oI
Education. which had garnered national attention by getting into an evolution-versus-
creationism debate. Some oI those Iolks were progressive bloggers. some were
22
conservative bloggers. They had travelled to the meeting in Austin Irom numerous
locations across Texas. But we were able to easily keep track oI what was being said by
all oI them by searching on the hashtag oI #txsboe.
In Iact. by searching Ior that hashtag. we could see everyone in the entire world who was
Tweeting about the Texas Board oI Ed. even iI they were in Timbuktu and had only read
about the debate in. say. the Timbuktu Times.
There are hashtags Ior iust about everything these days. some used to a great extent. some
not.
II you`re Tweeting about a topic that`s hot in the news today. you might include #hcr Ior
'health care reIorm.¨ Or #publicoption. Or #economy. Or #stimulus. Or iust #politics.
II you`re a Tweeting Irom a red-state perspective. you might end your Tweet with #tcot
Ior 'top conservatives on Twitter.¨ The Iolks in the blue-state perspective might end with
#tpot ('top progressives on Twitter¨ also #topprog). while libertarians have #tlot.
(And Texas conservatives have created their own. '#txcot.¨)
And you can create your own. We`re an online newspaper covering government in Texas.
and we saw a lot oI people using #txpolitics. But that`s a broad topic. so we started using
#txlege iust Ior Tweets about the legislature. Now. I know several Irequent Twitter Iolks
who use #txlege. (How do you create a new hashtag? Easy. Just use it in a Tweet. Go one
better and send out a Tweet encouraging other Tweeple to use it. too.)
Schools have theirs Tweeting about the Aggies? End your Tweet with #TAMU. Places.
too there`s #houston and. Ior our state capital. #ATX.
Groups and events can have them. such as #spi Ior the Society oI ProIessional Journalists
(the people who brought you this blog). And when SPJ held its recent national
convention in Indianapolis. celebrating SPJ`s 100th birthday. Tweets speciIic to the
conIerence were hashtagged as #spi100.
There are hashtags Ior causes. too environmental hashtags include #sierraclub.
#nocoal and. iI you don`t mind some mild proIanity in your hashtags. #cleancoalmyass.
For open government issues. there`s #opengov. #transparency and #FOIA. We also
started #txIoi Ior Texas-related open government issues.
What`s your best hashtag use-case?
23
What can Google Wave do for you?
By AMANDA MAURER
Now that I have received my Google Wave invitation. I`m Iinally exploring all oI its
possibilities and so Iar I`m excited.
AIter playing around with my account and exploring on the Web. it looks like a great tool
to use when communicating and collaborating with others whether that means
planning an event. working on a proiect or sharing notes. Each message. or Wave. is
considered part conversation and part document. which allows users to chat in real time.
drag and drop documents. 'playback¨ a message to see what was said when and more.
(See more Ieatures below!) The creators designed Wave aIter asking themselves 'What
would e-mail look like iI it was created today (instead oI 40 years ago)?¨
UnIortunately. because oI everything Wave oIIers. there does seem to be a learning curve.
However. I`m excited to see how Wave can increase productivity.
II you`re interested in all that Wave oIIers. check out the 80-minute developer
presentation Irom May. Yes. it is a bit long. but they really do explain how everything
works quite well. Meanwhile. iI you`re looking Ior a shorter video to give you the gist.
try this snippet below. (Note: II you`re viewing this handbook on Scribd.com. click this
link to go directly to the video on YouTube.)

Want to know more? Here are some highlights:
x Wave combines 'plain vanilla e-mails¨ with instant messaging. This means that
you can see what your Iriends are typing in real time. which cuts out all oI the
time you waste waiting to hear back.
24
x Wave automatically corrects spelling errors by taking into account a word`s
context. Another option automatically translates your message (as you type!) into
your choice oI 40 languages.
x There`s a playback option. which allows a user to see when conversations.
comments and edits were made.
x You can drag and drop Iiles (images. etc.) into a Wave.
x Multiple users can edit a Wave at once; edits will appear to all users in real time.
x You can insert gadgets into a Wave. including a 'Yes. No. Maybe¨ gadget. a map
gadget and more.
x Third-party developers are creating 'robots.¨ or applications that increase what
you can do in a Wave (translators. URL shorteners. etc.)
x Thanks to the Google Wave API. there`s the option to embed Waves on Web
pages and blogs. Any changes you make to the Wave will be automatically
updated on the Web. and any comments made on the Web will show up on the
original Wave.
For more reading. check out:
x Google Wave: A complete guide
x How to: Get started with Google Wave
x Google Wave: 5 ways it could change the Web

25
Screencasting in no time
By HILARY FOSDAL
Did you ever want to take a screen-grab oI a Web site or an image on your computer. add
a voice-over and share it with a Iriend?
Sounds complicated. right? You`d need audio equipment and soItware that perIormed
screen-grabs and a lot oI other things that you probably aren`t even aware oI needing.
Well. now you can create Web-based recordings using Screenr in a matter oI seconds
using either a Mac or a PC.
How to create, publish and share a screencast
x Go to Screenr http://screenr.com/.
x Click 'Record your screencast now!¨
x You will be asked to give Screenr access to your computer.
x Now you are ready to screencast!
A small Iraming window pops up with
instructions on how to record your
screencast.
1. Move and resize the
Irame.
2. Click the red button to
record.
3. Press DONE when
Iinished.
Tip: The smaller you keep the frame,
the clearer your screencast will appear
when viewed.
Please note: All screencasts are
viewable by the general public.
You can add voice-overs to slideshows. screencast a .mov Iile and a whole lot more.
Screenr will record up to 5 minutes oI material.
Oh. and in case I didn`t mention. it`s Iree!
Once you have clicked 'Done.¨ you`ll be taken to a screen that will prompt you to write a
140-character description oI your screencast.
26
Upload your Iinished product to your Twitter account or post it on your blog.
My favorite feature: You can preview and delete your Screenr if you don’t like how it
turned out.
Sharing your content just got a little easier.
27
The ‘one-man band’ checklist
By REBECCA AGUILAR
The reality is we`re all becoming what`s called a 'one-man band¨ reporter. Also known
as a mobile iournalist (moio). a backpack iournalist or a digital correspondent. We`ll do
it all: shoot video. take photographs. interview. report. write. video edit. Twitter and
blog. I`ll be honest. it can be overwhelming. especially iI you`re being asked to provide a
video story with your print or online story.
Bonnie Gonzalez is a one-man-band reporter Ior an Austin television station. She`s
given us a Iew pointers to share with everyone who Iinds themselves in the same
situation; having to shoot video Ior a story. Here`s a simple list we`ve put together. One
that we hope you`ll put in your back pocket and use.
1. Check your equipment before you head out the door
x Batteries -- make sure they`re charged.
x Tapes/memory cards -- bring extras.
x Audio equipment -- lav. stick mic. receivers Ior the wireless mics and wind
screens.
x Tripod.
x Light kit -- make sure you have extra bulbs. Throw a Ilashlight in the kit. It comes
in handy.
x Laptop computer and connections to ingest or capture video at any location.
x Flip camera Ior emergencies when your video camera is not cooperating or
crashes.
x Rain cover Ior your video camera. You don`t want it getting wet. because that
causes big problems.
x Lens cleaner.
2. Protection for yourself. You never know where you’ll end up.
x Sunscreen
x Insect repellent
x Rubber boots -- Ior rainy. muddy days
x Rain iacket
x First aid kit
x Water
x Ruler -- iust in case you have to measure snow or water Ior a story or size oI hail.
x Extra change oI clothes
x Extra notebooks
3. Communication equipment
28
x Work cell phone -- make sure it`s charged
x Personal cell phone
x Car cell phone charger
x Phone numbers and notes Ior your story
x Phone book -- you never know when you`ll need the yellow pages.
4. Basic equipment and short cuts
x Pen and notepad: You should always have these basic tools with you. especially iI
your equipment breaks down.
x Write down time codes: Save yourselI time by writing down the time code oI a
sound bite or quote you plan to use in your video story.
4. Manage time wisely
x Pre-interview people beIore you meet them. You can iust iump into the interview
when you get with them Iace-to-Iace and not waste time warming them up or
wasting tape. The less tape you use. the less video you have to
capture. Remember. computers capture video on real time.
5. Don’t hesitate to ask for help
x You`re on breaking news and you`re carrying all your gear. It`s OK to ask
someone to help carry the tripod. You`ll be surprised how people will volunteer to
help. They will even hold the microphone iI you want them to during an
interview.
Everyone has their own style. their own pace. and their own methods. This is iust a short
checklist to get you into your groove. Good luck!

29
A beginner’s guide to Twitter
By AMANDA MAURER
Twitter. a microblogging site. can be a great resource Ior iournalists looking Ior
additional ways to Iind story ideas and sources. as well as share content. It`s similar to an
instant-messaging chat room in that you can interact in real time with millions oI Iolks
who share your interests. It`s a useIul tool because it can show you what its millions oI
users are chatting about online.
How to sign up and get started:
x Visit http://twitter.com and click 'Sign up now.¨
x Enter your Iull name. username. password. e-mail and CAPTCHA. Click 'Create my
account.¨
x You`ll be taken to a page to 'See iI your Iriends are on Twitter.¨ You can pass on this
Ior now there`s a small link under the box to skip it. You`ll next be taken to a page oI
recommended users. II there are any you`d like to receive updates Irom. click the check
box next to the account`s photo. then click 'Finish.¨
Your home page, settings:
Welcome to your home page. The box under 'What`s happening?¨ is where you`ll type
and send your messages. Below that. you may see tweets. or messages. Irom another user.
You can unsubscribe to those tweets later.
Along the right side oI your home page you`ll see your username and a spot Ior your
photo. Below your username you`ll see how many tweets you`ve sent. the number oI
users you`re Iollowing (subscribed to). the number oI users that are Iollowing you. and
how many lists you`ve been added to.

30
Going down the list. you`ll see a number oI links. You`re currently at 'Home.¨ Clicking
(YourUsername will show you a list oI all public tweets with your username in it.
'Direct messages¨ will take you to your inbox and outbox Ior private messages. We`ll get
to Favorites and ReTweets later.
You can Iill out your account by clicking 'Settings¨ at the top right oI the Twitter page.
Under 'Account.¨ you can add a URL (can be your Web site or publication). one-line bio
and your location (city). Click 'Save.¨
Under 'Notices.¨ you can turn oII e-mail and newsletter notiIications. You may want to
turn these oII iI you plan to be active on Twitter.
Lastly. click 'Picture¨ to upload an image.
Adding friends:
There are several ways to Iind Iolks you want to subscribe to or Iollow on Twitter.
x Click 'Find People¨ at the top right oI the Twitter page. You can search by a
person`s Twitter username or name; you can also Iind them by their e-mail
account.
x Use a directory oI Twitter users. You can search Ior accounts by location and
topic oI interest. Some popular sites include Twellow. WeFollow and JustTweetIt.
x Follow a user`s list. Visit Mashable to learn more about Twitter lists.
Removing Iriends: On your home page. click 'Following.¨ This will show you a list oI
every user you`ve subscribed to. Click the cog button. then click 'UnIollow.¨
Tweeting 101:
There are a number oI ways Ior you to send messages on Twitter:
Tweet: A tweet is a message sent out to the Twitter community. These tweets can be read
by your Iollowers and those who visit your proIile. These messages are limited to 140
characters. which can create some challenges. especially when sharing links. To help
with this. try using a link shortener like bit.ly.

Sending a message to someone: You can send a message to other users by beginning the
tweet with that person`s username.
31

Sending a private message: There are two ways to send a private. or direct. message.
One option is to click 'Direct Messages¨ in the right rail. You can chose who you want to
message by using the pull-menu. The other option is to go to your home page and begin a
message by typing a 'D¨ Iollowed by the username.

Retweet: A retweet is when someone copies. pastes. attributes and sends out another`s
Tweet. Visit Mashable to Iind out more about ReTweets.
Favorite: You can Favorite. or save. tweets that you`d like to see again by hovering over
the original tweet and clicking the star on the right side.
Other Twitter Tips
Hashtags: Using hashtag terms are one way Twitter users organize Tweets. By using the
same hashtag term. users can Iind Tweets about one subiect easily in search. The more
popular a hashtag terms become. the more likely it is to pop up in Twitter`s trending
topics.
Lists: Lists allow users to organize their Iollowers into certain groups. By adding Iriends
to these lists. you can view a stream oI iust their Tweets.
Twitter etiquette
x Twitter users may not automatically Iollow you. To build an audience. take the
Iirst step by Iollowing others with similar interests as you.
x Similarly. iI Iolks do Iollow you. Iollow them back. (OI course iI it`s a spam
account. or something oI that nature. there`s no need.)
x Twitter`s a two-way street. II you want people to respond to your Tweets. you
have to respond to others` Tweets.
x Be conscious oI how oIten you Tweet. II you`re having a multiple-Tweet
conversation with another user. you may want to direct message one another so
you don`t clog up your Iriends Twitter streams.
32
Read about more Twitter etiquette recommendations. For more inIo on Twitter. visit
Mashable`s Twitter Guide.

33
How to create an interactive Google Map
By HILARY FOSDAL
The Iirst thing you`ll need to do is create a Iree Google Account. Click here to create a
Iree Google account.
II you already have a Google Account created. go to http://maps.google.com
Once you have logged into your account. in the upper-leIt corner you`ll see the words
'My Maps.¨

Click on 'Create new map¨ to get started building a new interactive and embeddable
Google map.
Give it a title and a description so you can easily identiIy it the next time you want to
reIerence it. You`ll see why this is important in a moment.
Decide whether you want your map to be displayed publicly or only with people you
choose to share the map`s URL.
Click 'Save.¨
Type into the search Iield the address oI the location you want to add to your map.
For example. I will type in 'Chicago¨ and click 'Search Map.¨ and a red balloon appears
on the city oI Chicago along with a bubble with more inIormation on Google maps.
Click 'Save to My Maps.¨
34

A box will prompt you to choose the title oI the map you want to save this address in.
This is where you realize how and what you titled your maps can help you tag addresses
Iaster.
The bubble will expand to include a Iield Ior you to input a description oI the address.

This gives you an opportunity to explain why this address is important to your user.
Advanced step:
You can choose to use either plain text. rich text or HTML to add inIormation. There is
also a mini WYSWIG (what you see is what you get) editor to assist you in adding
photos. hyperlink text and much more.
35
You can also change the icon that
points to the address. Instead oI a
red or blue balloon you can choose
Irom one oI many Google 'deIault
icons.¨
Advanced step:
You can create and add your own
icons to your Google maps by
clicking 'add an icon.¨
Scroll down on the leIt-hand side on
the Google maps where it says
'Hide¨ and un-check any addresses
you might have erroneously typed
to make them disappear Irom your
map.
To embed your Google Map into a
blog or Web site click on the word
'Link¨ in the upper-right corner.
Copy the HTML code and paste it to embed into your Web site.

Advanced step:
You can customize how your map is displayed even Iurther by clicking on 'Customized
and preview embedded map.¨
Here are some Iun examples oI Google maps:
x Report on Halted Development in Your Neighborhood
x Grand TheIt Auto IV Locations
x myFOX Pets: Pet-Friendly Places (myFoxdIw.com has created a number oI
interactive Google maps you can check out)
36
Try it: Windows Live Writer for blog publishing
By JESSICA DURKIN
A Iunny thing happened when I was learning all about WordPress this month at their
WordCamp in New York City: I stumbled upon a new Windows desktop application
available Ior download that was created to make blogging easier.
As WordCamp attendees stampeded to an SEO workshop. I attended a Live Writer (beta)
presentation by Dani Diaz. a MicrosoIt developer out oI Philadelphia.
The Iirst question Dani posed to the audience was: 'How many oI you time-out oI your
online session and lose your material when you are blogging?¨ My hand shot up.
With WYSIWYG authoring. Live Writer allows bloggers to create posts on their desktop
with all the capabilities oI blogging soItware. The settings allow users to transIer posts
Irom Live Writer to maior blogging soItware accounts. Iully Iormatted to that soItware.
That is. you can set Live Writer. Ior instance. to WordPress. Blogger. TypePad. etc..
Iormatting and when you have completed your post. iust send the whole thing over and it
will be posted to your account. You can do this with countless blogging accounts by
adiusting the Live Writer settings to tell the post where to go.
Here`s how the company explains it on their blog:
Windows Live Writer is a desktop application that makes it easier to compose
compelling blog posts using Windows Live Spaces or your current blog service.
Blogging has turned the Web into a two-way communications medium. Our goal
in creating Writer is to help make blogging more powerful, intuitive, and fun for
everyone.
Among the Ieatures:
x Integrate text and multi-media to the working Live Writer page
x Integrate live links. Frequently used links recur automatically as you type them.
x Set publishing schedules. (This one was popular with the crowd.)
Live Writer was also built Ior Iull compatibility with Windows Live application.

37
Digital slideshows: The extra nugget for
your online news story
By REBECCA AGUILAR
The Iirst time I saw a digital slideshow in the Washington Post. I knew I wanted to make
that part oI my multimedia tool kit. I am not a proIessional photographer. but that hasn`t
stopped me Irom Iiguring out which cameras and soItware to use to produce a digital
slideshow.
I believe a slideshow is that extra nugget you need to go along with your written report. I
produce digital slideshows when my assignment is very visual. I mean when there is a
lot oI action and reaction going on.
Here`s one I produced Ior pegasusnews.com. It took me iust under two hours to shoot the
photos and conduct my interviews. Then it took me 40 minutes to put together
the slideshow. (Note: II you`re reading this handbook on Scribd.com. click this link to go
directly to the slideshow on Vimeo.com.)

Stepping in the Right Direction Irom Rebecca Aguilar on Vimeo
Digital slideshows help the reader 'experience¨ the story. It makes them Ieel like they
were right there when you were covering the assignment. In many ways they`re like the
video stories I produced Ior my television reports.
Types of digital slideshows
A digital slideshow can be very simple or it can have many layers to it. One story can be
produced in diIIerent ways by iust the elements you use in the slideshow. A digital
slideshow can include the Iollowing combinations:
1. Only photos
2. Photos and text
3. Photos and music
38
4. Photos and soundbites (interviews)
5. Photos and reporter voice-over
6. Photos. music and text
7. Photos. music. and reporter voice-over
8. Photos. music and soundbites
9. Photos. music. text. and reporter voice-over
10. Photos. music. text and soundbites
11. Photos. music. text. soundbites and reporter voice-over
12. Photos. music. text. soundbites. reporter voice-over and ambient sound
(background sound like traIIic. etc.)
13. Photos. text. soundbites. reporter voice-over and ambient sound
Here`s a digital slideshow I produced Ior pegasusnews.com with photos. soundbites.
music and reporter voice-over. (Note: II you`re reading this handbook on Scribd.com.
click this link to go directly to the slideshow on Vimeo.com.)

Dallas police 'New LiIe Opportunities¨ Irom Alex Bentley on Vimeo
The more digital slideshows you produce the better you`ll get at visualizing what you
want and how to get the best results. I get many oI my ideas and inspirations Irom
looking at other digital slideshows being produced by newspapers and online news
sites. The Washington Post and The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune are my Iavorites.
Do you need an expensive camera or soItware to produce a quality slideshow? Not really.
but I`ll cover that and Iree soItware you can use in my next blog.

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Facebook Pages 101
By AMANDA MAURER
II you`re looking to grow the audience Ior your newspaper. magazine. station or Web site.
you may want to create a Facebook page.
II you already have your own Facebook proIile. don`t worry setting up a Facebook page
is quite similar.
Facebook pages are similar to proIiles in that they have Iriends (called Ians). walls. oIIer
the option to add pictures and are super easy to update. In addition. pages allow you to:
x Publish your wall and status updates to your Ians` news streams
x Interact with your Ians via status updates. comments and message updates
x Create customizable tabs (along with Discussions. Events. etc.)
x Direct non-Ians to a landing page (tab) other than the page`s wall during their Iirst
visit
x Pull in an RSS Ieed. or oIIer a landing page Ior YouTube videos
x Track your page`s metrics
To get started. go to Iacebook.com/pages/create.php. When you have Iinished Iilling out
all oI the necessary inIormation (name. category. proIile picture. blurb box. and basic and
detailed inIo). don`t Iorget to publish the Ian page and add other Iolks as administrators.
Some tips:
x Publish interesting content: This may be a no-brainer. but be aware oI what your
Facebook audience enioys reading and chatting about. This doesn`t mean you
should compromise what news stories you promote. rather when sharing a news
link. mention an engaging angle to promote conversation.
x Keep your proIile active but not spammy so Ians see your updates and visit
your Ian page oIten.
x Interact with your Ians: II Iolks comment on your posts or wall. be sure to
continue the dialogue this helps to create a sense oI community on your Ian
page. Encourage dialogue by asking questions. etc.
x Once you have more than 25 Iriends. you can claim your vanity URL. This is
helpIul. because it makes your Facebook page that much easier to promote and
direct Iuture Ians to.
x Interact with your Ians: II Iolks comment on your posts or wall. be sure to
continue the dialogue this helps to create a sense oI community on your Ian
page.
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x While your Facebook page may become a Ieed oI inIormation. try to make it a
resource Ior Facebook users to come back to Ior more than iust updates.
For more on Facebook`s pages. check out the Facebook Pages Product Guide (March
2009).

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Create an interactive timeline using Dipity
By HILARY FOSDAL
Interactive timelines are a great visual way to inIorm and engage users about your news
topic.
Dipity timelines can do more than display simple text. Adding photos. links. and pulling
in RSS Ieeds are iust a Iew oI the Iun Ieatures you can play around with.
Timelines created in Dipity can be displayed using a standard linear graph or in
Flipbook` mode which is similar to a multimedia carousel or List` which displays the
content in a cataloged Iormat.
Whether you are detailing a series oI events that lead up to a maior news event. i.e.. the
spread oI the swine Ilu. or providing a historical and chronological display oI events. i.e.
the history oI the New York City Marathon. timelines are no longer conIined to the
boring textbooks oI yesteryear.

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x The window will allow you to give the timeline a title and description. upload a
timeline proIile picture. add SEO tags. pick a theme and a time zone. and allow
you to determine who you will allow to view your timeline. I would suggest
picking a Iree theme and allowing anyone to view your timeline.
x To start creating events on your timeline click the blue button. 'Add an Event.¨
x A new window will appear that asks you to include:
 Title
 Date
 Description
 Upload a picture or paste an image URL
 Add a link
 Include the location oI the event (Dipity will generate a map Ior
the location oI the event)
 Add a video URL
x Once you click 'Save.¨ the event will be added to your timeline which you can
view in the standard Timeline Iormat. as a Flipbook. List or on the Map.
You can always go back and edit or delete any oI the Iields by clicking the event located
on your timeline.
You can click 'Add a Source¨ to Ieed other online account data into your timeline. i.e..
Flickr. Tumblr. FriendFeed and Yelp. to name iust a Iew.
Once you have completed adding in all your 'events¨ you can embed your Dipity
timeline into your web site. blog. or Facebook. Dipity will generate a customized embed
code when you click 'embed widget.¨

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Dipity is also social media savvy and allows other Dipity users to comment on your
timeline and has Twitter. Facebook and a host oI other social networking apps to help
you spread the word about your cool new timeline.
Still have more questions? Check out the Dipity FAQ.
II you experiment with the RSS timeline Ieeds you`ll discover that Dipity automatically
pulls in the images embedded into your posts or articles. Personally. I think this is a
great Ieature one less Iield Ior me to Iill in!
Examples oI Dipity interactive timelines:
x All things SPJ
x H1N1 Vaccine
x Apollo Timeline

44
Tech tools to help you keep up with your FOIA requests
By JENNIFER PEEBLES
Reporters: Ever think oI a record or document you`d like to get hold oI and say to
yourselI. Wait — haven’t I already FOIA’ed that?
You`re not alone.
In response to a question that someone posed on the FOI-L listserv. let`s talk about some
ways you can use technology to help you keep up with your records requests. We`ll look
at some pros and cons oI each approach.
The simple text file: The most basic way to do it is with a text Iile on your computer
or. on a shared Iolder on a server on your network. iI you`re trying to share with co-
workers or a team. Problem is. only one person can access that document at any one time
which could be a pain iI you`re trying to share with a large group or your entire
newsroom.
And. iI your newsroom`s network is like any oI the ones I`ve worked on. you can kiss
goodbye the hope that anyone outside your building can ever access the document on the
server that cuts out your statehouse bureau. your guys at the cop shop. or any reporter
who ever leaves the oIIice with a laptop. Which is iust about everyone these days.
Some better approaches:
Create a Google Doc. Google will let you create and share documents Ior Iree iI you
have a Google/Gmail account create a word processing document and then 'invite¨
your co-workers to share it. No. you aren`t sharing it with the whole world. iust with the
invitees. More than one person can be in the same Google Doc at a given time. and it`s
easily accessible to people outside the oIIice.
(I should also note: You don`t have to do your FOIA list as a word processing document.
You can also store them as a spreadsheet Iile. with columns Ior date sent. agency
FOIA`ed. description oI document requested. status oI request. contact person. etc.)
Create an intranet for your team/workgroup as a Google Site. Google also lets you
create Iree sites that you can share with a limited number oI invitees. You can create new
'pages¨ in your site. including one using the 'list¨ template. that will allow you to create
columns and pull-down menus Ior the headers I listed above. You can also upload
attachments. such as .doc or .pdI Iiles oI the actual requests. in case you need to review
how you worded something.
Create a wiki, either for yourself or your team. No. setting up a small wiki doesn`t
require any coding knowledge or server space sites including Mindtouch`s Deki Wiki
and PBWorks` PBwiki will let you set up a wiki Ior a Iew users Ior Iree. which they host
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themselves and which you administrate entirely through their Web interIace. (At my shop.
Texas Watchdog in Houston. we have a Deki Wiki Ior FOIAs. as well as having a Google
Site intranet.) The idea is that everyone goes to the wiki and updates it every time they
Iile a FOIA request. giving an accurate reIlection oI what has been requested and where it
is in the pipeline.
You can also try notebook-type storing solutions such as Evernote. which oIIers Iree
accounts with a maximum monthly upload limit (pay users get more storage). Springnote
or even Google Notebook which still works. even though Google says it`s stopped
active development on it.
Again. multiple people can access these repositories at once. and they`re easily accessible
to people outside your oIIice. as long as they have an Internet connection. (The caveat:
These are only helpIul iI people take the time to update them with inIo about their newly
Iiled FOIAs. II that doesn`t happen. well . that`s a human error. not the computer.)
So. how do you keep up with your FOIA requests?

46
Better video: Planning
By JEFF ACHEN
This is the second in a series of mini-tutorials on the basics of shooting video. If you
know how to turn on a video camera and press “record,” this series is intended to help
you take it to the next level for better news video results.
When it comes to video. there are three basic areas worth Iocusing on that will bring the
quality oI your Iinal product up a notch to look and sound much more proIessional than
ncle Bob`s 2008 Christmas Iootage: Technique, planning and publishing. This post
deals with the topic oI planning.
Planning Ior your video includes the kind oI thoughtIul consideration you`d give to story
angle and style. You must determine the reason you`re doing video. then execute it in a
way that makes sense given your technology. time and storytelling commitments.
Planning is also required in order to eIIectively do your iob. The requirement to carry a
video camera and still camera along with your usual notepad and pen can be intimidating.
but proper planning makes it possible.
x News video is all about letting the viewer EXPERIENCE the elements oI the
story Ior themselves. In writing we do this through narrative writing. but video
lets viewers see and hear the elements Ior themselves.
x When planning to shoot video Ior a multimedia story. ask yourselI iI the story
you`re telling has some 'action¨ element that would be exciting to show others.
One way to think oI it is by asking yourselI. 'What would I show my best Iriend
iI he/she were here on this story with me?¨ It could be how parts work together to
make something important happen. it may be a process. it may be a demonstration.
or it could be a person or animal doing something that`s more interesting on video
than as a still photo.
x Consider asking iI the interviewee has video. In cases where you`re interviewing
a missionary to AIrica or Peru. the volunteer may have taken video oI their time
there and can submit it Ior your use online. Police can oIten provide squad car
camera video oI traIIic stops. etc.
x Consider video slideshows. Ever had a story with tons oI great photos. but not
enough room in the paper Ior more than two? Consider editing them together in
sequence with a voice over that we could post online as a video.
x Capture important people saying important things. II someone is making a speech
and you know you`ll be standing there Ior more than 20 minutes iust taking notes.
why not set up the video camera on a tripod to get some Iootage oI the speech?
You could post a memorable selection or quote Irom the speech online.
x Longer-Iorm videos oI political debates or controversial meetings can be oI value
to online viewers. Consider these types oI videos as a resource Ior those readers
who want more. Not everyone will watch a 45-minute video. but some will Iind it
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extremely helpIul to know that they can Iind such coverage on their local news
site!
x Sports even iI you don`t get video oI the championship game (which is a good
idea). we can go out to team practice Ior video oI the Ieatured athlete doing their
thing. Our. iI you`ve got a unique sport or unique aspect to a sport. video could
enhance a sports Ieature story.
x Plan out your use oI digital cameras. video cameras and interviewing to make sure
you`ve got your bases covered. For instance. when covering a rodeo cowboy.
perhaps you arrive and snap some photos while he`s practicing. Then. when he
takes a break. you take up your notepad and interview him. maybe even conduct
the interview with the video camera rolling. Then. when he enters competition.
you get some great b-roll video oI him doing his thing. You`ve now got your
interview notes. photos and video. Congratulations. you`re a multimedia iournalist!
II you`re covering a breaking news story. my rule is always leave the video
camera rolling. Get video oI the Iire. interview the Iiremen on camera. don`t stop
rolling. Then when you get back to the oIIice. pull notes Irom the on-camera
interview.
x Some cautions: Video oI school plays or other copyrighted works is prohibited by
law. We also have the same obligations as still photos when taping kids. Get
permission and cover your butt.
x Just think about what you`d be willing to watch online. Don`t subiect your
readers/viewers to something you wouldn`t waste your time watching.